Others' Gazes (9)
'Awkward, so awkward. Did these guys all take some kinda pills? What's their deal today?' Eunhyeok had no idea where to look, rolling his eyes this way and that nonstop.
Hyeonseok kept glancing at his girlfriend like he was gauging her mood, but he was also sneaking peeks at Lee Hyun little by little. Lee Hyun was quietly scanning the club room here and there, along with the photos stuck up in the corner. Hyoseok just looked blank and fidgety, not knowing what to do with himself.
'The chattiest one being Jia, who's barely stepped foot in here? That's some bullshit. Fuck, what's the club president even doing?'
"How many people usually join club activities?"
"I heard there's a club festival in May—do we set up a promo booth or something?"
"I heard our club goes on trips and stuff. Where's the next one?"
"How many nights is a trip usually?"
Eunhyeok panicked at Jia's barrage of questions and shot a look at Hyeonseok, who finally started answering calmly once he caught the glance.
"Uh, well, our club's official roster is just over 30 members right now. But honestly, a lot of 'em are just names on the list who don't actually show up. We've got a bunch of upperclassmen and guys in the military, so active members are probably around a dozen or so. And yeah, the club festival is pretty much mandatory—it counts toward your activity points for the semester wrap-up."
Now back to his duties as club president, Hyeonseok was giving Jia's questions his full attention. Maybe that's why Eunhye even started focusing on her boyfriend's words.
"Oh, and our club is themed around travel, but the official title is the Kihaeng Club. It's less about just having fun and more about sharing insights and info from trips, so you have to write a trip report if you go. Things have changed, though—not like the old days. For the ancient seniors, those reports were the main info source, but now with the internet everywhere? We run a blog with photos and fun video edits mostly."
"Aha."
Jia smiled like she was satisfied, then fired off another question at Hyeonseok right away.
"So when's the next trip?"
She was pushing like travel was her whole reason for being there, and Hyeonseok dutifully answered.
"We usually poll the members, but it's mostly after midterms. Sometimes after finals too if schedules line up, but lately it's just been the one post-midsemester trip. Typically 1 night 2 days, but 2 nights 3 days depending on the distance."
"Ehehehe."
"...?"
Hyeonseok gave Jia a weird look for her sleazy grin at the trip talk, but he stuck to his role.
"Oh, right. Anyone wanna back out now? Fill out the application, submit it to the school, and you're officially on the roster in the system. Speak up if you're not feeling it—no hard feelings."
"Uh..."
As soon as Hyeonseok finished, Hyoseok checked Lee Hyun's mood. She was still eyeing the room even while listening, but she didn't seem opposed to joining. Jia beamed and spoke up for her friends as rep.
"Don't worry. Seonghwan oppa's here—we're all joining."
"Seonghwan hyung? Uh... anyway, thanks for signing up. Here's the forms—fill in your name, student ID, etc."
Jia's words gave off a vibe like she'd come just for Seonghwan, which puzzled Hyeonseok inwardly, but he took it as her roundabout way of saying Seonghwan had brought them and quickly handed out the apps. While passing one to Lee Hyun, he stole another glance at her face behind his girlfriend's back, fighting to hide his pounding heart.
'How the hell does Seonghwan hyung know her? Any connection?'
It wasn't just her stunning beauty that shocked Hyeonseok.
He didn't know her name was Lee Hyun, but he knew of her. He'd spotted her a few times at the restaurant by chance—a girl so pretty he'd lost his mind staring a couple times. Word was she was a freshman in the education department this year. He couldn't exactly stalk a stranger for details, so he'd let it go... until she showed up in his club room today.
She'd come out at the end of the group, looking even more dolled up than usual, which threw him for a sec, but he recognized her right away.
Hyeonseok turned to look at Seonghwan. He was indifferently watching Lee Hyun fill out her form between giving her pointers.
"Agh, fuck, your handwriting's a mess. Looks just like your face—total scribble-fest?"
"Hey... shut up."
Lee Hyun ground her teeth quietly, aware of the others, but Seonghwan didn't care.
"What? Talking smack to your senior? This is a solid club. Can't have that uncultured mouth. Wanna get kicked out?"
"Grr... Please be quiet, sunbae?"
Hyeonseok could only gape at the two.
'Solid club? Kicked out? Who's threatening who? What the fuck is going on? Is she really the one desperate here? Did Seonghwan hyung blackmail her or something?'
But the pretty girl was smiling occasionally at her cute round-faced friend—no sign of being dragged here against her will.
Eunhyeok, who'd been watching the whole mess, was just as baffled.
'What the hell's this situation? Is Seonghwan a real player? The others maybe, but that girl's not someone you just bump into casually.'
Whatever the guys thought, Seonghwan just apathetically watched Lee Hyun and her crew fill out forms.
"Hey, hurry up. I gotta get to work. Why you writing like a turtle?"
At Seonghwan's clueless bullying, Eunhyeok and Hyeonseok freaked and reined him in.
"Dude, just shut up and sit tight. Or don't worry about it—go to work."
"Yeah, hyung. Why pick a fight? Give the newbies time. Like Eunhyeok hyung said, go ahead."
"Still, better to leave together, right?"
"Then just zip it."
"Fine, fine. I'll hit the bathroom then wait out front. Gotta say bye properly."
"Yeah, go already."
Once Seonghwan left first, Lee Hyun started filling hers out fast like she'd been waiting. Soon, she led the way, and Jia and Hyoseok finished up, handing in their forms one by one.
Four fully filled apps. With Lee Hyun's group and Eunhye's accepted, Eunhyeok whooped excitedly.
"Yes! We crushed recruitment today."
"Haha, right? Sunbae, wanna grab dinner? We can talk club stuff and schedules in depth over food."
"Sounds good. Let's roll—dinner's on me."
The guys in the room stood, grabbing bags. But Lee Hyun, slinging hers over, headed to the corner like something caught her eye.
Past trips' photos of members were framed small and displayed there.
"Oh? Ah! Shoulda given you the tour—got caught up."
Hyeonseok hurried over late, but Lee Hyun ignored him, staring holes into the pics.
"Ah, checking the photos? We use the blog, but we print and hang group shots. Used to have tons, but it got messy, so we boxed most in the cabinet and just keep recent ones up."
Even without his explanation, Lee Hyun could tell they were mostly new—the familiar face among strangers stood out. Her sharp eyes picked out the faint figure easy.
But she hadn't ignored everyone to zone in just for that face.
A guy and a girl. The dopey guy grinning like an idiot? No need to dwell. But the girl casually arm-in-arm, fake-choking his neck.
Jo Yu-mi. The senior Seonghwan got drunk with once, crashed at her place, then casually name-dropped at the bus stop next day. Lee Hyun hadn't known her face till now, but instinct told her.
She scanned more pics. Found one of that girl with a tall guy, arms linked all couple-y.
'Boyfriend? Then... what's that other pic?'
The earlier shot had a boyfriend-type too. But while she hugged Seonghwan's shoulder natural-like, that guy stood stiff-faced behind them.
Would you arm-hug another dude with your BF right there? Lee Hyun couldn't get it, but then she spotted a close-up of the girl and flinched. Glanced down at her own chest.
'...Kinda different, huh?'
Mom gave blessed genes, but not all blessings.
"Lee Hyun, whatcha doing?"
Snapped from her trance, she whipped around. Jia and the others staring blankly. Embarrassed at not noticing them, her face flushed.
'Ooh'
'Huh?'
The room's guys melted at her shy cuteness and crowded forward.
"Haha, let's head out? Lee Hyun, right? Pretty name. I'm a senior to Seonghwan but we banmal it. Heard of me?"
Eunhyeok tried roping in Seonghwan to break the ice.
"Lee Hyun, Seonghwan hyung's waiting—let's go say bye with Jia. Us 'Kim Steam Rising' members gotta stick together."
Hyoseok name-dropped their side group to flex.
"......"
"Huh? Oppa, why stare?"
"...Nothing."
Hyeonseok gazed at shy Lee Hyun a beat, then turned to girlfriend Eunhye and swallowed his words.
As the guys closed in, Lee Hyun gulped her embarrassment and reached for the door first.
"Hey, think he dipped already? Shoulda called."
"Nah, I texted Hyeonseok earlier—said we'd leave after 6:30. And we're joining dinner, so he'd ping if seats were set."
"But why'd Hyeonseok drag his girl here outta nowhere after ignoring my intros?"
"Dunno. She's a freshman, right? Honeymoon phase—no spine yet. Let's see her face. He bragged she's hot as hell."
"That guy's a bullshitter. If she was that fine, he'da shown her off ages ago."
"Guess we'll see. Oh, Eunhyeok hyung's there too?"
"Yeah? Gotta say hi—been a while."
The murmurs filtered through the door. Lee Hyun, right there, caught every word faintly, freezing with hand on knob. Others missed it.
And—
BAM.
"Hey, everyo—huh? Ack?"
"What's up, dude? Why not come in... huh? Wh-who're you?"
"Uh... I, um, I'm..."
Two guys and a girl faced off at the threshold. Guys gawking slack-jawed; girl stammering.
One guy spoke first.
"Uh... you the freshman joining today? Hyeonseok's...?"
"Wait, no way...?"
'Club room', 'joining', 'freshman'—Lee Hyun latched on, nodding at them.
"Yes, hi. I'm new joiner Lee Hyun..."
She just meant a polite greet. She was the newbie; they screamed seniors. Her crew behind—let 'em pass, give Jia and Hyoseok their turn.
That was it, but...
"Gaaah! No friggin' way! Fuck, this can't be real!!"
"Goddamn it! This a dream? Nah, a curse—this level. Hyeonseok of all people snags a, a... dwarf and elf colliding!!!"
"...???"
Lee Hyun could only watch baffled as the guys turned the quiet hall rowdy.
****
"They heard us? Eunhyeok hyung tip you off mid-chat? Or was there a meetup?"
"Nah, dude. Yujae and Chanwoo popped up outta nowhere—turns out Hyeonseok called 'em to meet his girl."
"I was gonna text the dinner spot after reserving. Didn't think they'd rush the club room."
"Heh heh heh. Long time, Seonghwan hyung."
"Yeah, ages. You been good?"
"Yeah, but... you guys seem hyped?"
"Hahaha. We always smile, right?"
"Exactly. Haha."
"......"
Seonghwan could guess. They'd hovered the newbies the whole talk, desperate to impress someone. Boosting his own likeability.
'Yumi sunbae bails, club's dying—then I bring the savior? Nailed it.'
Keeping Lee Hyun around was on them, though.
'She ain't easy. Those mutts'll cry blood. Like horny puppies.'
Maybe sensing rivals, Hyoseok fidgeted, glancing around.
"Alright, I'm off to work. See you next time. Oh, Wednesday club meet still on?"
"Yeah, but... let's hold off."
"Huh? Why?"
Club meets were second and fourth Wednesdays monthly. Casual check-ins usually, but planning for festivals/trips too.
Eunhyeok whispered at Seonghwan's reminder.
"Club vibe tanked hard last meet—Mincheol hyung went nuts. First time Yumi sunbae skipped too. He was cursing, kicking shit—froze everyone. Gotta gauge him before restarting. Or meet without him and Yumi."
"Won't they feel ostracized? Risky."
"No choice. Their mess. I like 'em fine, but this is it. It's not official—just a welcome maybe. I'll set intros with other seniors soon; then newbies can come freely."
"Sigh. How'd our club end up..."
"Eh, yeah—no face to show others."
Not Eunhyeok's fault. Yumi-Mincheol drama, with Seonghwan sandwiched secret-like.
So he'd dive into events harder, Mincheol be damned. Wreck the vibe? Seonghwan'd be the pillar, earning trust.
'For the future. And that prick's shit-eating face.'
But that needed time—he had none to spare.
'Gotta quit the job soon. Planned to tough one semester, but midterms hit late April. Talk to Dad.'
Seonghwan steeled up, scanning around. While he whispered with Eunhyeok, everyone waited blankly.
'Damn...'
He waved bye.
"Agh, work time. Eunhyeok sunbae's treating big, so eat up. Catch ya. Yujae, Chanwoo—help Hyeonseok with the newbies."
"No worries, haha. Won't forget hyung's grace."
"Grace...? What bullshit. Anyway, I'm out."
Seonghwan turned and speed-walked to the gate. Waves and goodbyes from juniors and peers behind—he stylishly waved 'em off.
"Aigoo, Seonghwan misses dinner 'cause we held him up. So, newbies—what you wanna eat? I'm treating big. No holding back."
Jia perked at Eunhyeok's bold flex, stepping up.
"For real? Anything?"
"Huh? Don't underestimate me. Spill. Meat, sashimi—pick wild. Front's got options."
Eunhyeok amped up determined; Jia grinned.
"Pork belly."
"Pardon?"
"Pork belly. Most popular food, right?"
"Ah, sure. Where to...? Know a spot, or search? Gimme sec—find a good one online..."
"We know a place. Let's go there."
"Huh? Whoa, our newbies are go-getters—love it. Close?"
"Yep, super close. Right up ahead. We've been—service is killer. The server's a total pro."
"Not the boss... the worker? Hot guy or what? Hmm..."
Eunhyeok eyed Jia skeptically, not vibing. He was flexing for them, not linking to some rando dude.
But Jia kept smiling bright.
"Hehehe. You'll see. He's popular. Especially with someone."
Lee Hyun elbow-nudged her side, getting the hint, but Jia just laughed it off.